House car



G. MADLAND June 1, 1937.

HOUSE CAR 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6,

'l 0 G G Ill' VENT0E- GAB/@EL MADLA/VD TTX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ji|1| 4 5Fl M n D J 0 9 Q mrz MAM Z ANn M 2 W 2 w Irl: |||||i|||| mi R L D W A 6 e s N M M ,d 2 FW* L \Q w G G. MADLAN D HOUSE CAR Filed June 6, 1955 `lune l, 1937.

Patented `lune 1, 1937 UNiTED STATES HOUSE CAR Application June 6, 1935, Serial No. 25,289

(Cl. 10E-409) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to house cars.

The railroads of this country own several thousand railway freight cars of the house car type which embody wooden sides erected upon a metallic underrame and metallic car ends and roofs. Many of these wooden sides have so ldeteriorated as to render the cars valueless despite the fact that the metallic portions of these cars are still serviceable.

To enable these cars once again to be placed in service and to permit the railroads to again realize a revenue from the capital investment which these cars represent, a plan has been evolved by means of which the cars have been converted in an economical manner to all metal cars. The conversion, additionally, has obtained an increase in the inside width of the cars whereby the revenue producing capacity has been enhanced. The plan above referred to which, of course, is applicable to the construction of new cars as well, disposes the lower margin of the metallic sheathing utilized in place of the displaced wooden sheathing in a plane lying a substantial distance outwardly of the plane of the side sill member of the car underframe. The lower margin of the sheathing is then connected to the side sill by means of a metallic member extending between and riveted to the sheathing and to the sill. There is thus required for the securement between the metallic member and the sheathing, the punching of a large number of holes in the sheathing and in the member and the use of a large number of rivets, together with the expense of labor and overhead which the punching and riveting operations entail. These rivets are exposed along the lower margin of the sheathing. Moreover, the fact that the side walls of the cars incorporate side posts to which 'the sheathing is secured and which must be coped or oset to permit of proper disposition of the metallic connecting member, an operation is introduced entailing additional expense.

In the converted house car the substituted metallic sheathing and the posts are in tension when the car is under load and said posts together with the side plate and side sill provide a stress carrying car side frame construction functioning to relieve the underframe intermediate the bolsters of the portion of the stress transmitted to the underframe. Under load, and consequent deection of the side sills of the underframe, the posts and sheathing are placed in tension. With the construction above D briefly described, the tensile stress in the metallic PATET OFFICE sheathing is ltransmitted through the connecting member in order to reach the side sill.

It is, consequently, among the objects of the present invention to provide a metallic car side construction for converted and new railway house cars of increased inside width in which a more intimate association between the metallic sheathing and the side sills may be obtained; wherein the exposed row of rivets along the lower margin of the sheathing shall be obviated; w that will permit direct securement of the sheathing to the side sills; wherein the connection between the sheathing and the side sill shall at least lie in planes more closely adjacent the side sills; wherein the rivets shall lie below and inwardly of the main plane of the side sheathing; which shall be capable of construction as a unit for application to cars; which shall eliminate the coping or crimping of the side posts; and which shall present a sturdy and more economical structure.

With the above enumerated objects and others which shall hereinafter appear, the instant invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly vpointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of railway house car embodying the instant invention, parts being broken raway to more readily accommodate the view to the sheet.

Figure 2 is a partial Vertical section on an enlarged scale taken online 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views similar to Figure 2, illustrating modiiied forms of 'd the inventionv In the drawings the instant invention is illustrated in substantially one-half of the car side wall of a railway house car, it beingunderstood that the remainder of the car side wall as well as the construction of the car side wall on the opposite side of the car will be substantially the same as that illustrated.

With particular reference to Figure l, the railway house car is designated in its entirety by the numeral l0 and the illustrated portion of the car side wall from the door opening II to the car end I2 may be constructed, together with the portion of the car side wall on the A5 opposite side of the opening, as a unit capable Y of subsequent application to the car underframe and car roof. The car side wall embodies essentially a door `post I3 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate'side posts It. The

space between the door post and the adjacent intermediate post and the space between the intermediate posts and the car end I2 are adapted to be closed by means of metallic sheathing comprised of sheet metal panels I5. These panels are secured preferably by means of riveting along their adjacent overlapped margins to the door and intermediate side posts. 'I'he end panel of the metallic sheathing overlies a flange i5 provided on the car end I2 and is secured to said flange as by means of rivets.

The upper ends of the door and intermediate posts and the upper ends of the metallic panels I 5 are secured preferably by riveting to a longitudinally extending side plate member I1 to which the car roof designated as a whole by the numeral I8 is fastened. At their lower ends each of the intermediate side posts I4 has secured a bracket I9. Each bracket I9, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Figure 2 of the drawings, embodies a vertical attaching flange 2D, a reinforcing rib 2| and a horizontal flange 22. The rib 2l is substantially triangular in shape and extends between the vertical and horizontal flanges of the bracket I9. Securement of the bracket to each intermediate side post which, as shown in Figure 2, is substantially of Z-section, is obtained by means of spaced flanges 23-23 preferably formed integral with the bracket.

The door post I3 is secured to the side sill by means of angle clips 24-24.

With particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings, it will appear that the metallic panels I5 of the sheathing are disposed so that the main portions thereof lie upon the outside of the intermediate posts and are riveted to the outer flange of each of said posts. Each metallic panel is extended downwardly and bent inwardly to provide a flange which underlies the intermediate posts. The flange 25 is in turn bent downwardly to provide a substantially vertical flange 26. The attaching ange 23-23 of each of the brackets I9 extend upwardly as hereinbefore set forth for attachment to the lower portion of the intermediate posts I4 and to this end the horizontal flange -22 of the metallic sheathing is coped, as indicated at 21, to permit the upward extension of the flanges 23--23 through said sheathing flange.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a unitary structure may be provided which may subsequently be secured to the side sills of the railway house car. It is to be understood, however, that the various elements of car side construction may, if desired, be applied individually, rather than as a unit. Where the car side construction is utilized in the conversion of an originally wood sheathed house car, the original metallic underframe of said car may be utilized. A side sill of this underframe is indicated at 28. The spacing between the side sills disposed on opposite sides of the car remains the same but by virtue of the outward disposition of the door and intermediate side posts and the metallic sheathing, an increased inside width of house car is obtained. In the application of the car side construction to the existing underframe of the converted car, the brackets I9, as Well as the vertical integral flange 26 of the metallic sheathing, are riveted directly to the weby 29 of the side sill as by means of rivets 39 and 3| Where it is desired to ,reinforce the lower portion of the metallic sheathing, an angle member 32 may be utilized. Inasmuch as the metallic sheathing itself offers resistance to tensile stresses tending to tear the sheathing at the rivet holes and the car side frame structure provides a stress carrying truss, it will be obvious that the reinforcing member 32 may be reduced in section. The angular member 32 is secured to the weby of the side sill 28 by means of the rivets 3U which serve to fasten the bracket I9 to the side sill and by means of the rivets 33 which .serve to fasten the vertical flange 26 of the sheathing to the web of the side sill.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the reinforcing member takes the form of a substantially Z-shaped member 34, arranged with its web 35 overlying the horizontal flange 25 of the sheathing and with its oppositely extending flanges 36 and 31 abutting respectively the web of the side sill and the inner face of the metallic sheathing above the horizontal flange thereof. In order to accommodate the vertical flange 3l of the reinforcing member 315i, the outer flange of the intermediate posts I4 is coped as indicated at 38. Attention is invited to the fact that with the use of a reinforcing member such as 32, illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the integrity of the post is maintained to such an extent that the coping thereof is avoided. Where reinforcing members are utilized, these members will be coped in order to permit extension of the bracket attaching flanges 23.

The reinforcing member 39, illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, is preferably in the form of an angle having its horizontal leg 4U overlying the integral horizontal flange of the metallic sheathing and its vertical leg 4I upstanding and disposed against the inner face of the metallic sheathing. The intermediate posts I4 are coped in this construction in order to accommodate the upstanding vertical flange M of the member 39.

In each of the modifications illustrated in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings, it will be apparent that the vertical upstanding flanges which lie in substantial engagement with the inner face of the metallic sheathing will afford additional means tending to prevent corrosion of the sheathing in the event that moisture should seep from the floor down to the sheath- In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the vertical depending securing flange of the metallic sheathing is eliminated and the sheathing is provided along its lower margin with the horizontal flange 25 only. With metallic sheathing thus formed, the lower margin thereof is secured to the side sill 28 by means of rivets 42 Which fasten the horizontal flange 25 of the sheathing and the horizontal flange 22 of each of the brackets I 9 together. The lower margin of the sheathing is thus secured to the side sill through the agency of the brackets I9 and the securing rivets between the brackets and the sheathing are disposed a substantial distance inwardly from the outer vertical plane of the sheathing. The post attaching flanges 23-23 of the brackets I9 extend upwardly through a cope 2l provided in the horizontal flange 25 of the sheathing and, where a reinforcing member 32 is utilized as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the post attaching flanges extend upwardly through a cope provided in the horizontal leg of said member. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, it will be seen that coping of the post is avoided.

The construction illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The construction of Figure 5 utilizes, additionally, a vertical upstanding flange i3 provided as part of a Z-shaped reinforcing member M, which ange serves to prevent corrosion oi the metallic sheathing. The lower portions of the intermediate posts I4 are coped as indicated at 45 in order to receive the upstanding flange.

It will, thus, be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the instant invention that the objects thereof are achieved by the disclosed construction. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the details of the structure illustrated and described, it being apparent that numerous changes and modications of these precise details will be manifest to those skilled in the art. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited except as indicated by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a metallic railway house car of increased inside width converted from a house car having sides embodying wooden sheathing, a metallic underframe including side sills and an inside width of approximately 8'6", a car side wall construction for each side of the car comprising door and intermediate metallic posts spaced outwardly from said side sill, said intermediate posts terminating above said side sill, means securing said door posts to said sill, brackets secured directly to said sill and to the lower portion of each of said intermediate posts for securing the latter to the sill, a longitudinally extending side plate to which said posts are secured, metallic sheathing extending from said door posts to each end of the car and secured along its upper margin to said side plate, said sheathing being disposed upon the outside of and secured to said intermediate posts in outwardly spaced relation to said sill between said side plate and the bottoms of said intermediate posts, the lower portion of said sheathing being bent substantially horizontally inwardly below said posts and then vertically downwardly to providel a depending iiange, said flange being secured directly to said side sill.

2. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 86 and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts disposed in spaced relationship to the corresponding side sill, means extending between and rigidly securing said posts to said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its lower margin being formed with an integral inwardly extending flange and a vertical flange integral with and depending from said inwardly extending flange, said vertical flange being riveted to said sill, and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said side plate.

3. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 8'6" and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts disposed in spaced relationship to the corresponding side sill, means extending between and rigidly securing said posts to said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its lower margin being formed with an integral inwardly extending flange and a vertical flange integral with and depending from said inwardly extending flange, said vertical Bange' being riveted to said sill, and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said side plate, and metallic means secured to said inwardly extending flange of said sheathing for the purpose set forth.

4. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 86 and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts disposed in spaced relationship to the corresponding side sill, means extending between and rigidly securing said posts to said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its lower margin being formed with an integral inwardiy extendflange and a vertical iiange integral with and depending from said inwardly extending flange, said vertical ange being riveted to said sill, and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said side plate, and metallic means secured to said inwardly extending flange of said sheathing, said metallic means comprising an angular member having a flange secured to said inwardiy extending flange of said sheathing and a iiange engaging the inner face of the outwardly spaced portion of thei sheathing.

5. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 86 and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts disposed in spaced relationship to the corresponding side sill, means extending between and rigidly securing said posts to said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its lower margin being formed with an integral inwardly extending flange and a vertical flange integral with and depending from said inwardly extending flange, said vertical flange being riveted tol said sill, and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured tof said side plate, and metallic means of angular cross section having a flange engaging the inwardly extending flange of said sheathing and a vertical flange engaging the inner face of the outwardly spaced portidn of said sheathing and means securing said inwardly extending flange and said angular member to said means which rigidly secures said posts to said side sill.

6. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 8'6" and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts disposed in spaced relationship to the corresponding side sill, each of said posts having its outer portion disposed in the same vertical plane from top to bottom of the post,

means extending between and rigidly securing said posts to said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured toy said outer portions of said posts, said sheath- 5 ing at its lower margin being formed with an integral inwardly extending flange and a vertical :flange integral with and depending from said inwardly extending ilange, said Vertical ange being riveted tol said sill, and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said side plate.

'7. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 86 and an outside width not ex- ,15 ceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intermediate posts, means directly securing said posts ,20 to said side sill, the outer faces of said posts being oiset outwardly from said sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its lower margin being formed with an `25 integral flange extending inwardly to and semediate posts offset outwardly from and terminating above said side sill, means rigidly securing said posts to said side sill, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to the latter, said sheathing at its 5 lower margin being formed with an integral flange extending inwardly below said posts and secured directly to said side sill and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said 10 side plate.

9. A railway house car having an inside width in excess of 8'6" and an outside width not exceeding the permissible width of the tunnel clearance diagram, said car having a metallic underframe embodying side sills, each side of said car having a plurality of longitudinally spaced metallic door and intermediate posts, means rigidly securing said posts to said side sill, said intermediate posts being offset outwardly from and terminating above said side sill,

the outer face of the lower portion of each of l said intermediate posts being disposed in the outermost vertical plane of the outer face oi said posts, metallic sheathing disposed outwardly of said sill and said posts and secured to said outer faces of said posts, said sheathing at its lower margin being turned inwardly below said intermediate posts and secured directly to said side sill and a side plate, the upper portions of said posts and the upper margin of said sheathing being secured to said side plate.

GABRIEL 'MADLAND. 

